Pencil sharpener



June 1 6, 1931.

V. c. LUPPERT PENCIL SHARPENER Filed Aug. 25. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet gmwtoz i m w u M VZW u June 16, 1931.

2 Sheets-Shes! 2 I @zyn6. $14 910 1 3% J R5 in Patented Juneilfi, 1931 Uta ear a I VALENTINE C. LTTEPERT, OFlWILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYIQVANIA PENCIL sr-IAnPEN nn Application filed August 25, 1930. Serial No. 477,773.

This invention relates to improvements in pencil Sharpeners, and the primary object, of

the invention is to provide a novel sharpener of attractive and ornamental appearance, which may be sold as a souvenir for instance,

and which may form a unit of desk equipment.

Another object/is to furnish for pencil Sharpeners, a special type of cutter'head which may form part of either a stationary;

or rotary sharpener, and which may employ conventional razor blades as cutter elements;

A further object is. to provide the cutter head with novel means for yieldingly forcing the active cuttingedge of eachflbladeiting the inward movement of the pencil point, and for ejectinga point if the latter should break from the pencil. Such ejector means has a manually operated part projecting from the sharpener casingin order that the ejector may be actuated from the exterior of the casing.

Another object is to combine with the cutter head, a spring pressed plate which functions to space adjacent ed es of the blades apart, as a stop for limiting the inward movement of the pencil, as a stop for limiting the movement of the lower ends of the blade clamping plates toward one another, and as p the plunger of the broken pencil point ejector.

VV-ith the fore oing'objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists, in the novel features hereinafter described'in detail, illustrated'in" the accompanying drawings, and more particularly -described inthe appended claims.

In the drawings, 7 s

, Fig, 1 is a side elevation of the preferred form of my improved pencil sharpener,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the 7 line 3- 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig.3. r

Fig, 6 is a horizontal sectional. view of a detail on the line 66 of Fig.3. 7

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the lower end 05 portion of the sharpener partiallybroken away to illustratethe ejector inprojected position. 7

Fig. 8 1s a side elevation of. the lower portion of a modified formof the sharpener, in

which the bottom of the casing is provided with a compartment for the storage of extra blades.

Fig. 9'is a horizontal sectional view onthe line 99 of Fig". 8.

v Fig lO is an elevat on of the lower portion of the casing shown in Fig. 8.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, 11 designates a stationary casing consisting of a bottom 12 ,80 which isrigidly united with an annular wall 13 on which a removable cap 1 1 is superposed.

Asbest shown in Fig.5, the central portion of the bottom is raised at15, and is provided with an aperture through which eX- tends a hollow screw 16 that is fixed to the I bottom by any suitable means such as soldering or welding.

The portionof the screw which is arranged within the casing forms a threaded boss on which is screwed acutter head'l'i'. When the cap 14 is removed, this cutter-head may i be readily screwed on or off the screw 16,

and when the cutter is screwed up tight, it

is stationary relatively to the casing.

The central portion of the head 17 is'hoL low, and its upper end 18, which is cylindri+ cally bored, extends througha circular opening in the central portion of the cover,-and i the latter provides a flaring mouth 19 which surrounds the part 18.

Below the end 18, the bore is of inverted cone shape, as shown at 20, and this portion of the head is provided at diametrically opposite sides with longitudinally extending slots 21, the walls of which converge downwardly as shown at 22.

Blade supporting wings 23 project from opposite sides of the central portion of the head, and are provided with plane surfaces 24 against which cutting blades 25 rest. The surfaces 24 are so positioned that they converge downwardly, and their lower end portions cross one another at about the point 25, so that the active cutting edges 26 of the blades converge downwardly and cross substantially at the point 25. Below this point, the edges 26'abut against a plate 27 which functions as a gauge plate.

For cutters, I prefer to use ordinary safety razor blades of the double edge type, which blades have three apertures 28, 29 and 30.

When blades of this type are mounted on the cutter-head, one of the end apertures, say

30, receives a pin 31 projecting from the supporting wing, and the other end aperture 28, receives a leaf spring 32 which functions to swing the blade slightly about the fulcrum pin 31, and cause the active edge 26 of the blade to abut against the gauge plate 27.

' Due to this feature of the invention, even if there are slight variations in the distances between the opposite edges of different blades, and variations in the sizes of the apertures of the blades, the active edge 26 will always be held in proper position to project through the slot 21 and cut the pencil to a conical point, if the pencil is rotated while the sharpener is prevented from turning.

Each wing is provided at its medial por tion with a threaded aperture 33 to receive the shank 34 of a thumb screw 35 which passes through the medial portion of a blade clamping plate 34a, and through the aperture 29 of the blade, for the purpose of clamping the blade to its supporting wing. Of course, there is one of these clamping plates for each wing, and each clamping plate has an orifice 36 to accommodate the fulcrum pin 31, and a transversely extending slot 37 to receive the spring 32, which spring also acts to force a stop lug 38 of the clamping plate against the gauge plate 27. Each spring'32 is of special form, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 6. One end of the spring, as at 39, is of flat ring shape, so that it can be clamped against the wing 23 by the inner shoulder of a clamp screw 40 which is screwed into the wing. The shank of the spring is of U-shape, as shown at 41, and it extends through an opening 42 in the wing, as well as through the aperture 28 of the blade, and the slot 37 of the clamping plate.

When a blade is placed on its supporting wing, the lower end portion of the active edge 26 of the blade is forced by the spring 32 against the gauge plate, and then, when the clamping plate is placed against the blade, the spring 32 acts to push the lug 38 against the gauge plate. Finally, the screw 35 is applied for the purpose of securing the assembly together.

. The slots 21 at their lower ends, hzWe diametrically opposite vertical portions 43, in which the gauge plate may move vertically, and the lower end portion of this plate, as best shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 7, is provided with thin plain legs 44, which can slide vertically in guide notches 45 that are cut into opposite sides of the lower part of the central portion of the cutter-head, and merge alt their upper ends into the portions 43 of the s ots.

The gauge plate 27 which also forms an ejector plunger, normally rests with its lower edge on the upper end of the screw 16, and the upper end of the plate 27 is bent in opposite directions to provide oppositely projecting shelves 46. These shelves have apertures to permit the shelves to be connected to hooks 47. Each of these hooks is formed. upon the lower end of a wire spring 48, the medial portion of which is wound upon. one of the screws 40, between the head i of the latter and the ring portion 39 of the other spring 32. The opposite end portion 49 of the wire spring extends into an aperture 50 in the central portion of the head. This construction provides advantageous means for readily assembling and dismantling the parts, and it will be noted that the wire springs act to normally hold the plate 27 depressed, in which position, the upper edge of the latter acts a stop for the pencil point. In other words, in sharpening a pencil, as soon as the end of the lead comes into contact with the upper edge of the plate 27, the pencil is properly sharpened.

In case the lead shouldbreak during the sharpeningoperation, the broken point of the lead would be jammed into the restricted. bore of the cutter-head, as indicated at 51, and as this would interfere with the subsequent operation of the device, I use the plate 27 as an ejector plunger. To this end, the screw 16 forms a guideway for the shank 52 of a finger operated pin, the upperend 53 of which always engagesthe lower edge of the plate 27, and the lower end of which is enlarged as at 5 1, to facilitate its manipulation. In Fig. 5, the plunger is in its lowermost position, but Fig. 7 shows the partswhen the pin 52 has been pressed upwardly to dislodge the broken point 51, which point will now drop from the bore of the head, when the casing is inverted As the edges of the blades are vieldingly held against the gauge plate by the springs 32, the blades will not interfere with the manipulation'of the plate 57 when the latter is employed as a broken point ejector, and it willgbe understood that when the enlarged head 54 is released by the operator, the wire springs 48 will return the plate 27 to the position in whicn it rests on the screw 16.

In practice, a sharpener of this kind may occupy a portion of a desk and form part of the equipment of the latter, and when it is desired to sharpen a pencil, the end of the latter .is simply inserted into the bore of the cutter-head, and then the pencil is turned in a clock-wise direction, while the casing is held from turning by the operator.

As the cutter includes a plurality of active cutting edges, obviously, if desired, the, pencil may be sharpened by an oscillating movement instead of by a rotary one, and of course, the shavings pass through the slots 21, intothe casing. When a suficient amount of such shavings gather in the cas ing, the top 14: may be removed, and then the shavings can be discharged.

As a modification of myinvention, I propose to provide the lower portion of the easing with an extra compartment for additional blades For this purpose, the bottom porion of the casing may be connected byany suitable means, such as bayonet joints 60, to a false bottom or cover 61 which will house additional blades 62. These blades may be threaded on tot-he ejector pin .68 which s 'tionary casing havlng a removable end proelongated for this purpose, and if desired, the falsebottom may be equipped with stationary lugs 64: to be passed through the end apertures of the blades to prevent the latter from turning on the pin 63, and rattling while the device is beingv handled.

Obviously, this construction will not interfere with the manipulation of' the ejector pin 33, and the latter can be manipulated from the exterior of the casing, without remov ing the false bottom. V

l ihile I have disclosed whatI new consider'to be preferred: embodiments of the invention in'such manner that the same may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, I am aware that changes may be made in the details disclosed,"without departing from the spirit of the invention, as expressed in the claims.

VVhatI claim and desire to ters Patent is:

l. Apencilsharpenerincludingastationary casing, a. stationary cutter-head detachably mounted in the casing and provided with a cutter, a broken pencilpointejector supported by said head, and means projecting from the cutter-head tothe exterior of the casingfor operating said ejectorl g 2. A pencil sharpener comprising 'a stationary casing having a removable end prosecure by Letvided with an aperture, a stationary cutter-- head arranged inthe casing and having a tubular portion projectingthrough the aperture of the casing end, said tubular portion having a substantially conical bore to receive apencil end and provided with a slot placing the interior of the bore in communication with the interior of the casing, a cutting blade having an active edge portion projecting into said slot, and means for supporting the blade-on the head in such manner that the side, surface of the blade, as well as the cutting edge of the latter are arranged at angles to the axis of the bore.

8. A. pencil sharpener comprising a stationary casing having a removable end provided "with an aperture, a stationary cut tor-head arranged in the casing and having a tubular portion projectlng through the aperture of the casing end, said tubular portion having a substantially conical bore to'receive a pencil end and provided with a slot placing the interior of the bore in communication with the interior of the casing, a cutting blade having anactive edge portion projecting into said slot, and means for supporting the blade on the head in such manner that the side surface of the blade as well as the active cutting edge of the latterare arranged at angles to the axis of the bore, said sup-- porting means includinga wing having. a blade supporting. surface which converges downwardly toward said axis and has its lower portion crossing said axis.

4. A pencil sharpener comprising a stavided with an aperture, a stationary cutterhead arranged inthe casing and having ,a

tubular ortion aro'ectin throu h the a erd O b ture of the casing end," said tubular portion having a substantially conicalibore to receive a pencil end and providedwith a slot placing theinterior of the bore in communication with the interior of the casing, a cutting blade having an active edge portion pro ecting into said slot, and. means for supporting tioned means including a. wing having a blade supporting surface extending lengthwise of the bore and crossing the axis of the latter.

5. A pencil sharpener comprising a stationary casing having a removable end provided with an aperture, a stationary cutterhead arranged in the casing and having a tubular portion projecting through the aperture of the casing end, said tubular portion having asubstantially conical bore to receive a pencil end and provided with a slot placingthe interior of the bore in communication with the interior of the casing, a cuttingfblade having an active edge portion projecting into said slot, and means for supporting the blade on the head in such manner that the side surface of the blade, as well as the active cutting edge of, the latter are arranged at angles to the axis of the bore, said last mentioned means including a gauge member against which the inner end portion of the active cutting edge of the blade IQctS, said edge diverging from the axis of the bore in a direction away from said gauge member,

6. A pencil sharpener comprising a casing and a cutter-head arranged in said casing and including a tubular portion and a projecting wing, the tubular portion having a conical bore provided with a slot extending lengthwise of the tubular portion, a cutting blade mounted on the wing and having an active cutting edge extending into said slot, and means for holding the blade in such manner relatively to the cutter-head that the face of the blade and its cutting edge are arranged at angles relatively to the axis of the bore, and which cross said axis.

7. In a pencil sharpener, a cutter-head comprising a tubular portion and a blade supporting wing, a gauging surface on the cutter-head, said tubular portion having a conical bore, the tubular portion having a longitudinal slot communicating with the bore, a cutting blade mounted on the wing and having an active cutting edge projecting through the slot, and resilient means for holding said edge in contact with said gauging surface.

8. In a pencil sharpener, a cutter-head comprising a tubular portionand a blade supporting wing, a gauging surface on the cutter-head, said tubular portion having a com-- cal bore, the tubular portion having a longitudinal slot communicating with the bore, a cutting blade mounted on the wing and having an active cutting edge projecting through the slot, and resilient means for holding said edge in contact with said gauging surface, the blade having an aperture through which the resilient means extends.

9. In a pencil sharpener, a cutter-head comprising a tubular portion and a blade supporting wing, agauging surface on the cutter-head, said tubular portion having a conical bore, the tubular portion having a longitudinal slot communicating with the bore, a cutting blade mounted on the wing and having an active cutting edge projecting through the slot, and resilient means for holding said edge in contact with said gauging surface, the blade being provided with an aperture, and the resilient means extending through said aperture and comprising a U-shaped part. 7

10. In a pencil sharpener, a cutter-head comprising a tubular portion and a blade supporting wing, a gauging surface on the cutter-head, said tubular portion having a conical bore, the tubular portion having a longitudinal slot communicating with, the bore, a cutting blade mounted on the wing and having an active cutting edge projecting through the slot, resilient means for holding said edge in contact with said gauging surface, a clamping plate for holding the blade on said wing, said clamping plate having a projecting lug engaging the gauging surface, said resilient means also functioning to yieldingly hold the lug in engagement withthe gauge surface.

11. A pencil sharpener comprising a cutter-head including a tubular portion and a blade supporting wing, said tubular portion having a bore provided with a frusto-conical not said tubular )ortion also havin a lon i- 7 1'3 D tudinal slot communicating with the frustoconical part of the bore, the wing having a blade supporting surface arranged at an angle to the axis of said bore, a fulcrum )in projecting from the wing, a spring mom or projecting from the wing, a blade having apertures through which the pin and spring member extend and also provided with an active cutting edge extending along said slot, a gauge surface on the cutter-head, the spring member yieldingly holding said cutter edge in contact with the gauge surface, and means for securing the blade to the wing.

12. A pencil sharpener comprising a cutterhead including a tubular portion and a blade supporting wing, said tubular portion having a bore provided with a frusto-conical part, said tubular portion also having a longitudinal slot communicating with the frustoconical part of the bore, the wing having a blade supporting surface arranged at an angle to the axis of said bore, a fulcrum pin projecting from the wing, a spring member projecting from the wing, a blade having apertures through which the pin and spring member extend and also provided with an active cutting edge extending alon said slot, a gauge surface on the cutter-head, the spring member yieldingly holding said cutter edge in contact with the gauge surface, and means for securing the blade to the wing, said blade securing means comprising a clamping plate held in contact with the gauge surface by said spring member, and means for securing the clamping plate to the wing.

13. A pencil sharpener comprising a cutter-head including a central tubular portion and a plurality of blade supporting wings projecting from the tubular portion, said tubular portion having a conical bore, and the wings provided with plane surfaces having the same angularity relatively to the axis of the bore, as the coni city of the conical bore, the tubular portion having diametrically opposite longitudinal slots into which said surfaces of the wings merge, a gauge member intersecting the bore, and cutting blades engaging said surfaces of the wings and having active cutting edges extending through said slots and engaging opposite sides of the gauge member.

14. A pencil sharpener comprising a cutter-head including a central tubular portion and a plurality of blade supporting wings faces of the wings merge, a gauge member intersect ng the bore, cutting blades engaging said surfaces of the wingsand having active cuttingedges extending through said slots and engaging opposite sides of the gauge member, and resilient means for yieldingly holding the blade edges in contact with said gauge member.

15. A pencil sharpener comprisinga cutter-head including a central tubular portion and a plurality of blade supporting wings projecting from the tubular portion, said tubular portion having a conical bore, and the wings provided with plane surfaces having the same angularity relatively to the axis of the bore as the conicity of the conicalbore,

the tubular portion having diametrically opposite longitudinal slots into which said surfaces of the win s mer e a au e member intersecting the bore, cutting blades engaging said surfaces of the wings and having active cutting edges extending through said slots and engaging opposite sides of the gauge member, said gauge member being movable lengthwise of the tubular portion of the cutter-head, and forming a broken point ejector plunger, spring means for yieldinglyurging :3; said blade edges into contactvwith said gauge member, and resilient means for normally holding the gauge member in a predetermined position.

' 16. A pencil sharpener comprising acutter-head provided with a conical bore, the

cutter-head having a slot extending lengthwise-thereof and communicating with the bore, a cuttingblade' having an active edge extending through the slot, a broken point ejector plunger mounted for movement lengthwise of the cutter-head and extending into the bore of the latter, resilient means for normally holding said plunger in a predetermined position, and manually operated means impinging against said plunger for actuating the latter.

17. In a pencil sharpener, a casing, a cute ter-head in the casing provided with a bore and having a slot with which the bore communicates, a cutting blade mounted on the head and projecting into said slot, a plate extending substantially diametrically across the bore of the cutter-head and arranged to move axially of said bore, resilient means mounted on the cutter-head for normally.

holding said plate in a predetermined position, and manually actuated means for shifting the plate in one direction lengthwise of the bore.

18. A pencil sharpener comprising a cas ing, a stationary cutter head arranged verti-.

cally in the casing and projecting upwardly I from the bottom thereof, said cutter head being provided withia conical bore and having a slot ext-ending lengthwise thereof and communicating with the bore, a cutting blade secured to the head and having an active edge extending through the slot, a broken point ejector plunger mounted for movement lengthwise of the. cutter head and extending into the bore of the latter, resilient means for normally holding said plunger-in'a predetermined position, and manually operated means for actuatingv said plunger, the last mentioned means including a finger operated head positioned within a recess in the bottom of the casing.-

lntestimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

VALENTINE O. LUPPERT. 

